Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 113 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 GMC Canyon, and it carries 3 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 14 | 12% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 10 | 9% |
| Structure | 9 | 8% |
| Exterior lighting | 8 | 7% |
| Visibility | 8 | 7% |
| Air bags | 7 | 6% |
| Service brakes | 7 | 6% |
| Power train | 5 | 4% |
| Suspension | 4 | 4% |
| Unknown or other | 3 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
Frame rail rust holes, brackets wielded to frame supports for leaf springs wields rusted completely through frame making vehicle unsafe due to the potential leaf springs supports to frame of vehicle breaking away from fr
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
The frames on many of these trucks are unsafe to be on the road due to rusted leaf spring mounts and frame rails that are rotting away and unable to lift on a hoist. Luckily I came across a video warning me to watch out
NHTSA complaint: Structure
NEARLY TOTAL FRAME FAILURE DUE TO POOR STEEL AND EXTREME RUST AND CORROSION OF ENTIRE FRAME. WITH THIS MODEL YEAR OF GMC AND CHEVROLET TRUCKS, THERE ARE A LOT OF REPORTS OF FRAME FAILURES. MY PARTICULAR TRUCK IS SO BADLY
NHTSA complaint: Structure
ON 6/17/20 AS I WAS TRAVELING UNDER THE ALABASTER, ALABAMA OVER PASS ON HIGHWAY 65 NORTH AN ORANGE CONSTRUCTION BARREL WAS BLOWN INTO THE ROAD BY A TRUCK A HEAD OF ME. I SWERVED IN THE ATTEMPT TO MISS IT. THE BARREL CLIP
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC CANYON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE CHANGING THE OIL AT THE RESIDENCE, THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS WERE
NHTSA complaint: Structure
INSTALLED NEW BRAKE LIGHTS DID YOU BRAKE SWITCH UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL STILL SHOWING SIGNS OF NO BRAKE LIGHTS ON MY VEHICLE I'LL BRAKE BALLS HAVE BEEN REPLACE. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC CANYON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDE
NHTSA complaint: Structure
THE WHOLE LEAF SPRING SHACKLE WENT THRU THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK. AFTER LOOKING AT HOW TO REPLACE THIS NOTICED PRETTY MUCH THE WHOLE THING IS RUSTED OUT AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED TO MAKE IT SAFE TO BE ON THE ROAD AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2005 GMC Canyon. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2011, CHEVROLET COLORADO, GMC CANYON, MODEL YEAR 2006, ISUZU I-280/I-350, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2008, I-290/I-370, REGULAR CAB VEHICLES AND EXTENDED CAB VEHICLES WITHOUT A REAR SEAT AND EQUIPPED WITH A FRONT 60/40 SPLIT BENCH SEAT. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY
Risk: BOTH NHTSA AND GM DISCOURAGE PLACEMENT OF A CHILD IN A FRONT SEAT. NEVERTHELESS, THERE ARE INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MAY REQUIRE PLACEMENT OF A CHILD IN A RESTRAINT IN THE FRONT CENTER SEATING P
Fix: DEALERS WILL CUT A HOLE INTO THE BACK PANEL TRIM COVER TO ALLOW ACCESS TO THE TOP TETHER ANCHOR FOR THE FRONT CENTER SEAT POSITION AND WILL PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION AS TO USE IN THE OWNER'S M
CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS MAY EXPERIENCE THE PERMANENT LOSS OF BRAKE LAMP FUNCTION OR BRAKE LAMPS THAT ARE ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES. THE CENTER HIGH-MOUNTED STOP LAMP (CHMSL) IS AFFECTED IN BOTH INSTANCES. ALSO, IF EQUIPPED, THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL BECOME INOPERATIVE. ANY TRAILER BRAKE LAMPS WHICH AR
Risk: A FOLLOWING DRIVER MAY NOT KNOW WHEN THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN APPLIED, AND A REAR-END CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH ASSEMBLY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 5, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 OR ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727.
GM IS RECALLING 185,903 MODEL YEAR 2004-2009 COLORADO, GMC MODEL YEAR 2009-2004 CANYON, MODEL YEAR 2006 I-280, I-350, MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 I-290, AND I-370, PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, ARIZONA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIP
Risk: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE SIMULTANEOUS LOSS OF ALL BRAKE LAMPS OR CAUSE ALL OF THE BRAKE LAMPS TO STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY. BOTH OF THESE CONDITIONS COULD FAIL TO WARN OTHERS OF THE DRIVER'S INTENTIO
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS AS SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL BULLETIN FREE OF CHARGE. GM ANTICIPATES THAT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE BY JUNE 2010. A SPECIAL COVERAGE FOR VEHICLES
| Reliability raw | 75 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 76 | good |
| Maintenance | 79 | good |
| Depreciation | 84 | excellent |
| Performance | 67 | good |
| Efficiency | 35 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other pickup trucks in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 113 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 14 of them (12%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 75/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 76/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2005 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 73/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.